The New York Times' fall architecture preview is centered around a pretty important and relevant theme, namely the relationship between the built environment and the natural one.

Some of the projects that they profile include Dock 72 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which was raised up in order to lift it out of a floodplain; the "solar carve" tower by Studio Gang, which was designed to prevent shadows from casting along the adjacent High Line (pictured above); and the recently completed Casablanca Finance Tower by Morphosis.

This last one, pictured below, uses thick aluminum beams to shade the building. That's a pretty important feature in North Africa.

Photos by Nic Lehoux and Hakim Wiseman Joundy (via the New York Times)

Architect Jeanne Gang (of Studio Gang) has just been named to the TIME 100, which is Time magazine's annual list of the world's most influential people. Jeanne is the only architect to be included in the 2019 list.

Jeanne was named to the "Titans" category, which typically honors those who are at the top of their respective field. She sits alongside Mark Zuckerberg, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James in this year's TIME 100.

Past honorees within the architecture profession include Elizabeth Diller, David Adjaye, and Bjarke Ingels. All, stars.

The list is in its 16th year. But it'll be the first year where there will also be a day-long conference. (Lynne and Marc Benioff, of Salesforce, acquired the magazine in 2018 for $190 million in cash and are making some changes.)

Congratulations Jeanne.

Full disclosure: Studio Gang is the design architect for our One Delisle project in midtown Toronto.

The minutes from One Delisle's Design Review Panel meeting were just published. They are public and available on the City of Toronto's website, here. The project was on the December 13, 2018 agenda.

No project is ever perfect, but here are two paragraphs from the minutes that I think do it justice:

The Panel thought the proposal had an "iconographic landmark quality to it". Numerous members pointed out that it's (sic) siting at a transitional "hinge point" on Yonge St would also lend itself to iconic placemaking as well as a striking addition to the view down the Yonge corridor.

The Panel was excited to have this type of sophisticated design come to Toronto. Many members felt that the massing and design solution would be a powerful and beautiful addition to the skyline. Several members commented that the proposal could become "a building with a name" similar to landmark towers in London, England. One member suggested that Toronto could use more buildings with personality.

Lots of buildings, of course, have names. What is really being discussed is a building with an identity that resonates with people in a meaningful way and that becomes associated with a particular place.

But let's not forget that being "iconic" is only one part of this equation. The goal here is ambitious architecture with genuine civic value. And if you're at all familiar with the project and broader ideas for the block, I would hope that mission is clear.